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Checking ID for Alcohol Online

Checking Age for Alcohol Online

Young people in the UK are used to providing age verification for alcohol offline; they know that they will be unable to purchase alcohol from a pub, supermarket, off-licence or any retail outlet, unless they are able to produce ID that proves, unambiguously, that they are 18 or over. The UK law on alcohol states that it is also illegal for someone over the age of 18 to buy alcohol on behalf of someone under the age of 18. Failure to adhere to this law could lead to arrest, and a fine, leaving the perpetrator with a criminal offence on their records.

Online Age Checks for Alcohol Sales are Growing Slowly

The underage prohibition on young people buying alcohol applies equally online as well as offline. With online grocery sales growing year-on-year, we’re seeing a corresponding growth of the sales of alcohol online. What is not keeping pace is the number of age checks that should be occurring alongside each online purchase of alcohol. Whilst some retailers are being diligent in complying with regulations, that is not always the case.

In the UK, Trading Standards and the Police share responsibility for the enforcement of alcohol sales regulations. Both Trading Standards and the Police work on a regional structure, and it is recognised that, when it comes to online sales, the level of enforcement of regulations varies from region to region. Consequently, in some areas, there seems to be more compliance to laws than others.

The technologies required to check the age of customers online, are different from those the offline world. There is an increasing awareness of the specific requirements for online checks, and the solutions available, however, the installation of solutions is still far from ubiquitous as it is in the real world.

Checking ID for Alcohol Online – a Trustworthy Solution

Alastair Graham, CEO of AgeChecked stated recently: “Protecting our children online must be of the highest priority. The laws that apply in the real world also apply in the digital world, and we mustn’t forget that.”AgeChecked is committed to keeping online sales legal, by providing a seamless, easy-to-use, and trustworthy process of age verification for alcohol. Online buyers are required to provide proof of age from a range of options; they choose the one that’s easiest for them. Once the information has been verified, an account is set up and the customer is given a login and password. Thereafter, when shopping for age-restricted goods, they simply sign in with their password to demonstrate their age and legality.